Glass fiber drawing device



Q 1953 J. F. COURTNEY ETAL ,654,

GLASS FIBER, DRAWING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 6, 1953 J. F. COURTNEY El'AL GLASS FIBER DRAWING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May ll, 1951 java/2 573.

1953 J. F. COURTNEY ET AL GLASS FIBER DRAWING DEVICE 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed May 11, 1951 lllllllllll I! Patented Get. 6, 1953 UN TED Q F 1 Ej A general object of the invention 15:55, cigqi s g no elzdxaw n a wslap ed to a p lge flpp fillin a x ns v s gfih th o' unqgnli IgQ 1317c qxigqsl with a contipupus,.$ 1 e1 lf ef a nd pgefi: e 15, 11 W or curved: fla fifw fill b 499. 31 tiyq drawing efiegtt is ieved.

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eral frusto-conical face 52 which is beveled radially inwardly with respect to member 35.

As seen in Figure 6, the disc 48 is positioned at a slightly higher level than disc 50 and on its face 52 engages as at 54 with the outer side of the diaphragm 36 deflecting it axially towards the opposite side of member 35. Similarly, disc 50 engages on its face 52 as at 56 with the outer side of diaphragm 38 deflecting the same axially towards the opposite side of member 35. It will be noted that each segment of the diaphragm contacted by the associated disc assumes the arcuate contour of the engaging surface 52, and this closes the gap 84 and thus clasps the strand I8 against the contiguous segment of the opposing diaphragm with accompanying deflection thereof. Preferably the surface 52 on each disc is tangential to the central radial plane of the drawing member 35.

It will be readily observed that the strand I8 is sinuated through the drawing means 35 which thus obtains a positive grasp on the strand and which is amplified by a wedging tendency between the strand and the opposing radial surfaces on the diaphragms in view of the curvature thereof transversely of the strand. The bevel of the surfaces 52 is designed to obtain rolling contact without slippage along the full area of engagement with the related diaphragms in view of the disparity in the speeds of concentric increments of the diaphragms radially inwardly from the peripheries.

A stripper element 58 (Figure 1) is located at the lower or discharge extremity of the gripping zone; said element comprising a blade 60 supported in substantially vertical position and connected at its lower end together with the lower end of the guide element to a suitable frame- Work 62.

The blade 60 is entered between the diaphragms 36 and 38 and comprises at its upper extremity a curved section 64 presenting on its leading upper edge a curved surface or face 66 which is directed upwardly inwardly of the diaphragms 36 and 38 and is terminated adjacent to the outer perimeter of the separator plate.

It will be understood that deflection of the diaphragms is accompanied by pressing the air out from the gap 34 at the grasping zone of the drawing assembly. As the assembly is rotated the inorements of the diaphragms moving out of the grasping zone are caused to separate due to centrifugal action as well as the restorative nature of the material composing the same. As the dia phragms begin to open the air rushes into the void created and attempts to blow the strand radially inwardly into the gap. However, during the interval the momentum of the strand, which causes it to discharge substantially tangentially to the assembly, prevents substantial deflection of the strand from its discharge course. The air splits about the strand and rushes around the same into the portion of the gap therebehind. This air frictionally engages and is carried downstream between the spaced diaphragms and strikes the leading face of the blade inwardly of the strand to create a radially outwardly moving air cushion sliding off the leading face 65 of blade 60 to release the strand. The forwardmost extremity of the leading end of the blade is disposed adjacent to the radially inner peripheries of the diaphragms and the leading edge then recedes arcuately downstream of said leading and towards the outer peripheries of said diaphragms. The blade, which extends from adjacent the nner edge of the gap 34 to the outer edge thereof, substantially completely fills the space between the diaphragms without abrasion and the contour of the leading edge of the blade causes the air to pile up and progress downwardly over the leading edge of the blade to produce a blowing effect radially outwardly of the diaphragms and directed against the inner side of the strand so as to blow it away from the blade or stripper, wher by the strand is prevented from abrading thereagainst. Without the stripper the strand would be urged into the drawing element and continue to wrap therearound. The eccentricity of the guide surface 2| of wheel It changes the pitch of the strand and shifts it radially with respect to the gripping surfaces to prevent the formation of a narrow groove in the working faces of the diaphragms. The strand may discharge into a suitable container below after being discharged from the drawing means.

Referring now to the embodiment in Figure '7, the drawing means I 00 comprises an annular assembly I02 including a central separator ring I04 flanked by a pair of resilient annular diaphragms I06, I06 of preferably fabric reinforced rubber or the like, said diaphragms extending radially outwardly of the separator ring and being clamped together by a pair of clamp members I08 which maybe suitably interconnected as by rivets III), II 0. Each clamp plate I08 is secured on its outer side to a pulley I I2 rotatably mounted on a common stationary shaft H4, the pulleys being driven by V-belts I I6 from any convenient power source.

The shaft H4 is connected to a framework I26 for supporting the assembly. Stub axles I22 and I24 may be integral with shaft I I4 but are preferably rotatably and adjustably mounted with respect thereto and extend outwardly of the frame work I20 and are arranged in radially outwardly diverging relationship with respect to the axis of shaft I I4.

The assembly I 00 is flanked by a pair of dished, annular deflecting discs I 26 and I28 each of which is preferably formed of sheet steel and comprises a depressed or dished central body portion I30 riveted to a hub I32 rotatably mounted on the associated stub axle I22 or I24 and retained thereon as by a nut I34 on the outer end of the axle. A generally radial flange I36 encircles the body portion I30 of each clamping disc.

It will be observed that the disposition of the axles I22 and I24 positions the discs I26 and I26 in converging relationship toward one end of a determined diameter of the assembly and that the discs diverge towards the other end of the diameter. The discs at their convergence have their radial flanges, which are preferably outturned at their outer perimeters as at I38, pressed under predetermined light pressure against the outer side of the adjacent diaphragm. This action of both clamping discs effects a light, continuous and positive grasp through a flexible medium against the strand I40 which is entered into the gap I42 between the diaphragms I06, I06 upstream of the grasping area of the drawing assembly. The drawing assembly may be associated with a, stripper member 58 (not shown) which as in the previous embodiment may be positioned between diaphragms I08, I08.

It will be understood that a friction drive for discs I26, I 28 is obtained through engagement with the diaphragms. The axes of rotation of these discs converge towards shaft H4 in the plane of the surface of the drawing of Figure 7,

however to producaasinuousefiect the axles the 'sspattern grasping zone. This effectsan amplification of thegra'sp'onthe strand'as-"heretofore discussed.

It-will be understoodthat the "grasping "area may "be modified in either embodiment to "meet specificconditions by adjusting the relative positions of the grasping-or diaphragm deflecting means so that the 'meansmay be located to provide directly opposed pressures or widely sepa- -rated pressureare'as.

The stripping means in either 'embodiment'may be such as shown in our copending U.*S.'appli'cation for :Glass Fiber Drawing Mechanism and Process, Serial No. 221,596, filed April 18, 1951.

What is claimed. is:

i. 'In apparatus "for attenuating elongatable materials, acircnlar structureeen'iprising a pair of circumferentially extending flexible diaphragms-deflning a material receiving gap therebetween, means for rotating-therstructure, and means for'deflecting said diaphragms axially to close the gap and grasp the material therebetween and comprising apair of discs receiving saidtdiaphragms therebetween and each having its peripheral face pressed into the external side of theadiacent diaphragm and each rotating on an axis angularly related to the axis of rotation of the structure.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the area of engagement of one disc with the related diaphragm is spaced circumferentially of the area of engagement of the other disc with its related diaphragm.

3. In apparatus for attenuating thermoplastic materials, a pair of opposed circumferential drawing surface means adapted to receive the material therebetween and movable axially towards and away from each other, means for driving said surface means, and biasing means for moving at least one surface means towards the other for grasping the material, said biasing means comprising elements rotatably mounted outwardly of said surface means and having rolling contact therewith at circumferentially spaced contiguous areas.

4. In apparatus for attenuating thermoplastic materials, a pair of opposed circumferential drawing surface means adapted to receive the material therebetween and movable axially towards and away from each other, means for driving said surface means, and biasing means for moving at least one surface means towards the other for grasping the material, said biasing means comprising a pair of discs disposed outwardly of said surface means and arranged in radially converging relationship with said surface means and in rolling pressing contact therewith, and having circumferentially extending areas on the sides thereof in engagement with the respective surface means.

5. Apparatus for attenuating elongatable fibers comprising spaced flexible grasping means presenting surfaces adapted to receive the material therebetween and carrying an impinging air stream therealong, means for clamping said grasping means against said material, means for rapidly moving said grasping means, and means downstream of said clamping means for stripping the material from said grasping means and comprising a member having a face disposed in immediate proximity to said moving surfaces a'thwart "the ein-stream married =along said' surraces-saidface oriented to produce with saidair stream a-biowmg fiect-outwardlyoi said grasping means for discharging materialtherefrom.

6. Apparatus for attenuating elongatable ma;- terial comprising a "urawingstructure including awh'eelhaving aperipheral gapiianked by axially movable grasping elements, means for biasing said-elements" to effect a grasping action against itl'ie'inaterial "in a determined z'onepf said strucdial alignment with said gap and positioned in 'p'roximitythereto.

'7. In a paratus "for attenuatmgthermoplastic material, opposedj'circuniferential 'drawingsurfaces rotatable 'abouta igi'ven axis and movable towards and awayfrom each other and adapted to receive the'mate'rial therebetweenmeans for sinu'ating said surfaces while clamping thesame against the, material and comprising oppositely acting counterparts deflecting the surfaces in reverse directions .at contiguous'areas toLproduc'e a substantially Si-pattern, grasping zone, and

means for driving said surfaces.

8. Apparatus ffor attenuating thermoplastic material comprising a revolving circumferential surface adapted to accept the material thereagainst, means for pressing the material into intimate contact with the surface, means for driving the surface, and means for stripping the material from the surface and including an edge positioned in cleaving relationship to the surface and said first mentioned means.

9. In an apparatus for attenuating elongatable material, a circular structure including a pair of resilient elements spaced apart axially to define a material-receiving circumferential gap therebetween, a biasing assembly positioned along the remote sides of said elements and arranged to bear against said elements along apart of the circumferential extent thereof to deflect said elements towards each other in this zone and thus effect a gripping action on the material entered within said gap upstream of the zone, means for driving said elements, and guide means having faces converging toward the gap for directing the material thereto.

10. In apparatus for attenuating glass issuing from a source in a plurality of filaments, means associating the filaments into a strand, drawing means effecting a continuous pulling force on the strand for attenuating said filaments and comprising a pair of opposed flexible rotatable grasping members presenting circumferential drawing faces on adjacent sides, rotatable clamping means arranged to engage each member on its external side in a predetermined region to deflect the member axially towards the other and effect a clasping action therewith against the strand, said strand directed substantially circumferentially of said faces, the area of engagement of said clamping means with one of said members being disposed downstream in the direction of travel of the strand with respect to the area of engagement of said means with the other of said membersand said areas of englaligement being disposed in contiguous relations 1p.

11. In a drawing apparatus, a pair of rubberlike diaphragms arranged side by side and rotatable on a common axis, and normally spaced apart axially to define a material receiving gap therebetween, means pressing portions of said diaphragms together to efiect a grasp on the material, and stripping means downstream of said portions for discharging said material from said drawing apparatus and comprising a blade extending between said diaphragms.

12. A combination according to claim 11 wherein the leading edge of said blade is curved in a downstream direction from its radially inner edge to its radially outer edge and arranged to direct the air moving with the diaphragms along said edge to produce a blowing effect against the inner side of the material to blow it radially outwardly of the gap.

13. Apparatus for attenuating thermoplastic materials comprising a drawing surface, means for guiding the material to the surface, means for biasing the material against the surface, and means for stripping the material from said surface and presenting a face disposed along said surface in intercepting relationship to the air moving with the surface to produce a blowing effect therewith in a direction toward the outer periphery of the surface to discharge the materials therefrom.

14. Material attenuating apparatus including a rotatable drawing assembly having peripheral strand grasping means, and driving means for rotating the assembly, said grasping means enclosing said driving means and disposed to at least partially shield the same.

15. Material attenuating apparatus comprising a rotatable drawing assembly,

.ly radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the assembly.

JOSEPH F. COURTNEY. ADELBERT C. RADTKE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,458,456 Young June 12, 1923 2,223,914 Karns Dec. 3, 1940 2,299,998 Le Jeune Oct. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 478,383 Great Britain Jan. 18, 1938 512,283 Great Britain Aug. 31. 1949 

